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Laffoon
   Mrs. Eolin Samford Laffoon, 91, of Blackstone, VA died January 17, 2008. Her husband, Willard Eugene Laffoon, and a daughter, Nancy L. Taylor of Sandston, preceded her in death.
   Surviving is her daughter, Kitty L. Conley and husband, Terry, of Blackstone; a sister, Virginia Samford Thompson of Matoaca; her grandchildren, Teresa G. Allen and husband, John, of Blackstone, David E. Taylor and wife, Lee Ann, of Sandston, and Joseph (Joey) H. Taylor, Jr. of Sandston; her great grandchildren, Caitlyn and Caleb Allen, David (Davey) E. Taylor, Jr., and Alex Taylor; and her son-in-law and wife, Joe and Theresa Taylor of Williamsburg .
   Mrs. Laffoon was a retired waitress and a lifetime member of the West Brunswick United Methodist Charge first with Bethel United Methodist Church and then Macedonia United Methodist Church.
   Funeral services were conducted 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, in the Clarke Funeral Home, Kenbridge, with interment in Crestview Memorial Park, South Hill. The family received friends at the funeral home on Saturday from 1:00 p.m. until time of services.
   In lieu of flowers please consider memorials to the Macedonia United Methodist Church, Macedonia Road, Blackstone, VA 23824.
   The family wishes to give special thanks to nurse, Carrie Basham of Alberta, who became the “other daughter” and “other sister.”

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Helbig
   Lillian Luise Helbig, 66, of McKenney, died January 16, 2008. She was preceded in death by her husband Raymond Alan Helbig.
   She is survived by two daughters Audrey Underwood and Kirsten Helbig, as well as by five grandchildren.
   A memorial service was held January 19th at Crenshaw United Methodist Church.

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Callis
   Charles Franklin Callis, 92, of Kenbridge, VA, died January 16, 2008. He was the widower of Florence Vaughan Callis.
   He is survived by one daughter and a son-in-law, Betty and Emmett Williams of Victoria; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Charles F. Callis, Jr., and J. Reggie Callis and his wife, Louise, all of Kenbridge; seven grandchildren, Le Williams (Courtney), Todd Williams (Amy), Hope Dunbar (Ty), Kim Wilkerson (Rick), Vince Callis, Jay Callis (Chrissie) and Sallie Gigliotti (Anthony); 13 great-grandchildren, Cal, Sarah, Cara, Ben, Noah, Logan, Cole, Nate, Vaughan, Allie, Connor, Olivia and Gabe.
   Frank was a member of the Antioch United Methodist Church and he retired as chief magistrate of the tenth Judicial District.
   Graveside funeral services were held Friday, January 18, 11:00 a.m. at the Antioch United Methodist Church Cemetery, South Hill Road, Kenbridge, VA. Rev. Cameron Bailey officiated.
   Clarke Funeral Home, Kenbridge in charge of services.

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Bridgman
   Thomas Irvin Bridgman, age 93, died January 15, 2008 at his home in Albany, Georgia. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary Hamblin Bridgman of Roanoke.
   He leaves one son, Riley Bridgeman of Crewe; and two daughters, Betty Love Cliborne of Richmond and Brenda Fitterer of California. Two stepsons, Ronald and Robert Overstreet preceded him in death. Tommy also leaves a niece, Beth Hill; and a sister-in-law, Fuqua Bridgman, both from Blackstone, as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
   A World War II veteran, Tommy was a machinist for Lockheed Corp. Graveside services were held on January 21st in Roanoke, at Cedar Lawn Memorial Park.

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Allicott
    Mrs. Mary B. Allicott, 69, of Crewe, died January 15, 2008.
   She is survived by two daughters, Dorothy Redmon and Barbara Knight; one brother, Roy Blackwell; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren.
   Funeral services were held Saturday, January 19, from Little Mount Baptist Church, Blackstone with interment in the church cemetery.

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Cheatham
   Ms. Tammy D. Cheatham, 44, of Bridgeport, CT, died January 10, 2008.
   She is survived by one sister, Alfreda Hicks of Blackstone; one brother, Rodney Cheatham of Hollywood, FL.
   Funeral services were held Saturday, January 19, from Hawkes Funeral Home Chapel, Blackstone with interment in the Fowlkes Cemetery, Crewe.

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Published on Thursday, January 17th, 2008

Cheely
   Graveside funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, January 13 at New Hope Christian Church Cemetery for Ernest Claiborne Cheely, 80, of Dundas, who died on January 11, 2008.
   He was a retired Greyhound bus driver and a member of the South Hill Masonic Lodge, where he was a past Master.
   He was preceded in death by a son, Ronald Cheely; and two sisters, Virginia Hicks and Ruby Neal King.
   He is survived by his wife, Katherine Daniel Cheely; two daughters, Judith C. Howell of Glen Allen, and Katherine C. Hawthorne of Gloucester; three sons, Robert Cheely of Blackstone, Mark Cheely of Brodnax and Scott Cheely of Blackstone; 10 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a sister, Patricia Wright of Rawlings; and a brother, William Guy Cheely of Blackstone.

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Inman
   John Richard Inman, age 81, of Amelia, passed away January 9, 2008.
   He is survived by his wife, Irene; son, Ricky (Susan); daughters, Rhonda (David) Keener, Donna Lewis (Bryan) all of Amelia, Betty Wyatt and Robin (John Ray) Springston of Wilsons; sister, Viola Cook of Crewe; and brother, James Inman of Blackstone; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
   A graveside service was held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 12, at Salem United Methodist Church in Amelia. Hillsman-Hix Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

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Bland
   Walter M. Bland, 72, of Chicago, IL and formerly of Blackstone, died December 29, 2007.
   He is survived by his wife, JoAnne; son, Walter, Jr.; daughter, Sharon; 12 grandchildren; seven sisters, Virginia Tucker, Beatrice Ghee, Dorothy Johnson, Carrie Hobbs, Ella Bland, Josephine Baskerville and Gloria Bland; one brother, Morris Bland, Jr.
   Funeral services were held Monday, January 7, from Springhill Baptist Church, Blackstone with interment in the church cemetery.

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Hickson
   Leroy Hickson, 55, of Blackstone, died January 4, 2008.
  He is survived by his four children, Tishia, Vincent, LaShennia and LaShonnia; two sisters, Thelma Harrison and Iris Jenkins; three brothers, Samuel, Josh and Thomas Hickson; five grandchildren.
   Funeral services were held Saturday, January 12, from W. E. Hawkes & Son Funeral Home Chapel, Blackstone with interment in the Greenview Cemetery, Blackstone.

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Doswell
   Benjamin C. Doswell, 86, of Kenbridge, died January 5, 2008.
   He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann; two children, Joyce Coleman and Robert Doswell; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one sister, Margaret Jennings.
  Funeral services were held Thursday, January 10, from New Prospect Baptist Church, Blackstone with interment in the Doswell Family Cemetery, Blackstone.

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Bridgeforth
   Alfred E. Bridgeforth, 70, of Crewe, died January 7, 2008.
  He is survived by his daughter, Joy Bridgeforth; two brothers, Thomas and Leonard Bridgeforth; two sisters, Elsie and Alma Sydnor.
  Funeral services were held Saturday, January 12, from First Nottoway Baptist Church, Crewe with interment in the church cemetery.

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Stokes
   Mrs. Easter T. Stokes of Richmond and formerly of Blackstone, died January 7, 2008.
   She is survived by her five children, Thelma S. Johnson, Benjamin III, Catherine, Michael and Timothy Stokes; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
   Funeral services were held Friday, January 11, from W. E. Hawkes & Son Funeral Home Chapel, Blackstone with interment in the Greenview Cemetery, Blackstone.

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Published on Thursday, January 10th, 2008

Hensel
   Haynie Maben Hensel, 73, of West Chester, Pennsylvania passed away at the Chester County Hospital on December 28, 2007 surrounded by her loving husband of 49 years, David B. Hensel, and three daughters.
   Born in Louisa, Kentucky, to Benjamin Haynie Maben and Elizabeth Conley Maben, Mrs. Hensel was raised in Crewe, Virginia. She graduated from Duke University and completed one year of post graduate studies in child welfare at UNC before working in the field. She became a full-time homemaker when her first child was born and spent the majority of her child-raising years in a close-knit neighborhood in Wallingford, PA.
   Mrs. Hensel was an involved mother and grandmother, active in the PTA, Girl Scouts and other school commitments. She loved having her house full of friends and family, and never met a stranger. She had a keen mind and kept it sharp with crossword puzzles, logic problems and voracious reading on a variety of subjects. Mrs. Hensel was an expert on English history, the Middle Ages and heraldry. She also loved the arts, European travel, Faberge, gardening and doing crafts, especially with her beloved grandchildren. She was a die-hard Duke basketball fan.
   After moving to West Chester in 2003, Mrs. Hensel was involved with the Newcomer’s Club. Before that, she had lived in Westfield, NJ, for 23 years where she was a long-time member of the Richard III Society and the Friends of the Westfield Library.
   In addition to her husband she is survived by her daughter, Karen Heiss, Glenmoore, PA; daughter and son-in-law, Katherine and Jon Wikstrom, Towson, MD; daughter and son-in-law, Stephanie and John Wojtowicz, Cranford, NJ; and five grandchildren: David, Kelsey, Sarah, Jackson and Olivia.
   Interment will take place in Louisa, KY, later this year.
  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1615 West Chester Pike Suite 102, West Chester, PA, 19382, or to Duke University Development, 2127 Campus Drive, Durham, NC, 27708-0600.
   Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home Inc., West Chester 610.696.1181, please visit www.drsfh.com.

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DeBerry
   Lee Wiles DeBerry, Jr., 83, of Mohawk Drive, died Wednesday, January 2, 2008 at the Carrington.
   Mr. DeBerry was a native of Blackstone and was a member of Crenshaw United Methodist Church, attended West Lynchburg Baptist Church and was an U.S. Navy Veteran serving during World War II. He retired as Vice-President of General Services for United Virginia Bank.
   He is survived by two sons, Lee W. DeBerry III and G. Douglas DeBerry of Lynchburg; two grandchildren.
   Graveside funeral services were held 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 4, in Hebron Baptist Church Cemetery, 7533 Stonewall Road, Appomattox.

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Jenkins
   Lula Norton Jenkins, 92, of Blackstone, formerly of Crewe, died Thursday, January 3, 2008. She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
   Funeral services were held 2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 5, at Jennings-McMillian Funeral Home Chapel with interment at Pisgah Baptist Church Cemetery, Rice.

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Wynn
   Funeral services for Staff Sgt. Tyrone Curtis Wynn, USAF (Ret.), 52, of Dover, DE (formerly of Blackstone, VA) were held Saturday, December 8, 2007 in the Springhill Baptist Church, Blackstone, VA. Mr. Wynn died of heart failure Tuesday, December 4, 2007 at his home in Dover.
   Mr. Wynn was born July 22, 1955, in Farmville, Va., son of the late Robert and Lillie Brooks Wynn.
   He graduated from Nottoway High School in June 1973. At an early age, he joined Springhill Baptist Church, and was very active in different church functions. He was also a member of the Boy Scouts.
   Mr. Wynn was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, retiring in September 1993 with the rank of staff sergeant after 20 years of honorable services. He served four years as an aerospace ground equipment mechanic and 16 years as an aircraft loadmaster. His last duty assignment was with the 3rd Military Airlift Squadron on Dover Air Force Base, where he flew on the C-5A cargo aircraft. He participated in numerous high priority operations and missions including Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield.
   His decorations included the Aerial Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters (OLC), Air Force Commendation Medal with one OLC, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with five OLCs, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award and numerous service ribbons.
   After his military retirement, he took a job at Hanover Food Company as a forklift driver, and remained there until his untimely death. He also worked as a security guard for the drivers at Dover Downs Raceway Park.
   Mr. Wynn had a love for gospel and jazz music, computers, and conversing about his military career. He also had an outgoing warm personality, and lifted other people’s spirits with his joking way.
   In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Lillie W. Williams; a brother, Robert C. Wynn; a nephew, Willie Wynn Jr.; and a sister-in-law, Bertha F. Wynn.
   Mr. Wynn is survived by a brother, Willie Wynn of Washington, D.C.; a sister, Dorothy Wynn-Dailey of Indianapolis, Ind.; a nephew, John K. Williams of Richmond, Va.; two nieces and their husbands, Gerealene and Benjamin Custis of Glen Dale, Md. and Jennifer and Craig Prifogle of Rural Hall, N.C.; two great nieces, Cassandra and Stephanie Custis; four great nephews, David Custis and Cody, Carson and Camden Prifogle; a brother-in-law, John Ed Williams of Richmond; and a host of other relatives and devoted friends.
   Interment with full military honors was in the Springhill Baptist Church Cemetery, Blackstone, Va.
   Letters of condolence may be sent via www.hawkesfh.com.

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Published on Thursday, January 3rd, 2008

Dr. James Harris

Harris
   A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, January 5, 2008 at Blackstone Presbyterian Church for Dr. James Selden Harris of Blackstone.
   Dr. Harris, 75, died unexpectedly Sunday, December 30, 2007, at Duke University Hospital in Durham, NC.
   For 40 years, Dr. Harris was a beloved family physician in his native
Blackstone. He also served as Mayor of his hometown for 24 years, from 1982-2006. Prior to becoming Mayor, he served 10 years on Blackstone Town Council, from 1972-1982.
   "Dr. James," as he was affectionately known by his many patients, was a past President of the Virginia Municipal League. In 1990, he was named Virginia Family Physician of the Year.
  Dr. Harris, his late brother, Dr. A. Epes Harris, Jr., and fellow native son Dr. Stuart B. White co-founded Blackstone Family Practice Center, a premier teaching facility that produced approximately 200 rural family physicians.
Dr. Harris was a 1949 graduate of Blackstone High School, a 1953 graduate of Hampden-Sydney College, a 1960 graduate of University of Virginia School of Medicine, and he completed his rotating internship at the Medical College of Virginia. He served as President of the Hampden-Sydney student body 1952-1953. He served in the United States Marines Corps from 1954-1956.
   Dr. Harris loved his hometown and its people. He was a devoted Christian, wonderful husband, and loving father, grandfather, brother, and uncle. He was known far and wide as a healer, comforter, counselor, teacher, and mentor. Dr. Harris will be missed by his many former patients, who recall his warm, compassionate bedside manner. As Mayor, he was regarded as a diplomat and ambassador, who presided with grace and dignity.
   Dr. Harris was a Past President of Blackstone Rotary Club and remained active in Rotary until his death. He was a recipient of the William C. Coleburn, Jr. Father of the Year Award from the Blackstone Jaycees. In 1976, he was awarded the Algernon-Sydney Sullivan Medallion, the highest alumni award that can be bestowed upon a Hampden-Sydney graduate.
   Dr. Harris was a lifelong member of Blackstone Presbyterian Church, where he served as Elder, Deacon, Sunday School teacher, and choir member. The gifted baritone often sang solos at weddings, funerals, church services, and other special occasions. Dr. Harris sang at his own wedding, and "O Holy Night" was a Christmas Eve treat for many years at Blackstone Presbyterian Church.
   He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Frances Mayes Parson Harris of Blackstone; two sons, the Rev. Dr. James Selden Harris, Jr. (Liz) of
Virginia Beach, and Dr. Sydney Madison Harris (Suzanne) of Danville; a
daughter, Frances Harris Schwabenton (John) of Blackstone; two sisters, Lunette Harris Beale of Farmville; Katherine Harris Coleburn of Blackstone.
   He was predeceased in 1988 by his only brother, Dr. A. Epes Harris, Jr. Dr. Harris is also survived by nine grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.
   The family will receive friends from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. and from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, January 4, 2008, at the residence, 500 Brunswick Avenue, Blackstone, VA 23824. His remains will lie-in-state at the Joseph McMillian
   Funeral Home, 1826 Cox Road, Business Hwy. 460 during these times. Burial
will be held at Lakeview Cemetery immediately following Saturday's 1:00 p.m. funeral service.
   Memorial contributions may be made to Blackstone Presbyterian Church. www.mcmillianfuneralhome.com

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Robert Thomas
laid to rest Saturday

Thomas
    Robert Bascum Thomas, Jr., 76, of Blackstone, VA, passed away Sunday, December 23, 2007.
    Born June 14, 1931 to the late Robert B. and Elizabeth D. Thomas, he was an educator for over 22 years and a farmer for most of his life.
After serving in the Korean War with the U. S. Army, Robert attended and graduated from Longwood College in 1960. He taught for Amelia County High School and later Blackstone High School until 1968, when he enrolled and graduated with a MAT from UNC in Chapel Hill.
    While teaching biology and supervising student teachers for Longwood College, he attended Virginia Tech, where he obtained his Doctorate of Education in 1981. He had also served as Blackstone Intermediate School Principal. Throughout his educational career, he continued to maintain his beloved family farm in Blackstone.
    Robert has served on the Nottoway County Farm Bureau Board of Directors and was a Chairman for the Blackstone Southern States Board of Directors. He was a member of Crenshaw United Methodist Church.
    In 2003, Robert gave his collection of horse-drawn buggies and farm equipment for a museum in Blackstone where others could learn of and enjoy this legacy of the past. The Robert B. Thomas Carriage Museum was dedicated and opened to the public in September 2007.
    He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Dorothy Marie; a son, Robert B. Thomas III and his wife, Jessica L. Thomas; a daughter, Linda M. Townsend and her husband, Randy E. Townsend; four grandchildren, Craig R. Townsend, Krista M. Townsend, Victoria F. Thomas and Cameron M. Thomas, all of Chesterfield; a sister, Ann T. Hoover of Blackstone; four nephews and three nieces.
    Funeral services were held 11 A.M., Saturday, December 29, at Crenshaw United Methodist Church with interment following in Lakeview Cemetery in Blackstone. The family received friends from 6 to 8 P.M., Friday, December 28, at the Joseph McMillian Funeral Home, Business Highway 460, Blackstone, VA.
    In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Sanctuary Fund, c/o Crenshaw United Methodist Church, 200 Church Street, Blackstone, VA 23824 or to a charity of your choice.
www.mcmillianfuneralhome.com

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